Faith and Sight

I awoke this morning with a definitive theme and crucial reminder running through my head. “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7) Of course I know it, as you do. But it had taken me a long time to fall asleep, worrying and wrestling with God over a number of things troubling my mind. Life seems far too serious these days. Too often lately I find myself focusing on what I see (news), and forgetting the unseen (God’s hand). This is why it’s important for me to be consistent in the spiritual disciplines of scripture meditation and of prayer. I’m not sure about you, but I seem to have a hard time with consistency.

The Bible reveals God’s character and heart. As I immerse myself in the stories, they open up new insights that widen my narrow perspective. How many times do leaders like Moses and David appeal to God on the basis of His character and promises to save His people? And as they list His attributes to Him (worship), and name past marvels (praise), God hears. The stories reveal God’s care for those who reach out for Him. He often responds in ways that surprise (and should delight) us. His Spirit reminds us that this world is still His, and that He is able to work redemption in all things, even when we don’t see it yet. We don’t know how His redemption will show up in certain situations. But show up, it will.

I think back on the words of a wise counselor who encouraged me to consider Christ’s suffering and death on a cross – in all its ugliness, its darkness, and above all, its finality. He was done. Dead. Full stop. Or so it seemed. For two days, it seemed. The prince of darkness laughed. Then, the third day, the Son rose and obliterated the darkness. He turned the world upside down.

He still turns the world upside down. He still redeems - over and over again. We watch, wait and share in Christ’s victory. And so, we can be assured that nothing – not even a global pandemic (this is not the first in history) or anything else – can undo His redemptive work or separate us from His love. Just as the disciples were amazed at Jesus’ appearance after the resurrection, so we are often caught unawares at His redemptive work in the world, and our own lives. In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read,

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

In his Devotions for Lent, Walter Bruggeman says,

There is a way into the future in your life, because God is at work doing strange, wondrous things for you and in spite of you, and your job is to get your mind off your ways of need and control, to give your life over to God’s large, hidden way in your life.

It’s become abundantly clear that we truly have very limited control over circumstances that may come our way. Thankfully, by God’s grace we can live by faith, a light-and-life-giving sight endowed by the Holy Spirit.